Finger guard for knives



P 1959 M. J. ZULLO 2,901,824

FINGER GUARD FOR KNIVES Filed Sept. 11, 1958 Michael J. Zu/Io INVENTOR.

BY I

United States Patent Ofifice 2,901,824"- Patented Sept. 1, 1959- FlNGERGUARD FOR KNIVES MichaelJ. Znllo, Chicago, Ill. Application September11, 1958, Serial No. 760,409 4 Claims. c1. 30 295 This invention relatesto a safety device and more particularly to a fingerguard for a knife.

An object of the invention is to provide a device for protecting orsafeguarding a persons finger or fingers when using a knife that has thecorner of the blade protruding beyond the beginning of the handle. Theinvention is especially useful when a persons hands are wet or otherwiselubricated, for instance when slicing ham.

A further object of the invention is to provide a quickly applied andeasily attached and detached guard for a knife to protect the fingers ofthe user of the knife.

These together with other objects and advantages which will subsequentlybecome apparent reside in the details of construction and operation asmore fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals referto like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical knife with one of the guardsthereon.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the guard.

In the accompanying drawings there is a conventional knife having ahandle 12 and a blade 14. The blade 14 has a corner 16 which protrudesdownwardly beyond the lower edge of handle 12 when the knife is in theorientation of Figure l. The corner 16 protrudes laterally outwardlyfrom the handle 12 and often nicks or cuts the finger or fingers of theuser or the knife, especially when the hands are lubricated. Guard 20 isadapted to be placed on the knife in order to protect the fingers of theknife user. In order to be practical and commercially salable, the guardhas to be simple, easy to apply and must serve its intended purpose.Therefore, only two parts are in the construction. There is guard plate22 and a bolt 24. The guard plate has a flat part 26 with a slot 28which opens through one edge of this part. Two small sleeves 30 and 32in alignment with each other are at the same edge of the part of plate22 through which slot 28 opens. The slot is between the sleeves, spacingthem sufficiently so that the blade 14 of the knife may passtherebetween. Bolt 24 is adapted to be inserted in the sleeves and befastened in place by threading into sleeve 30. Therefore, a part of thebolt extends across slot 28 and is used to lock the guard in place onthe knife.

Plate 22 has an angular part 36 at the edge of part 26 opposite to theedge that has sleeves 30 and 32. The angular part is approximately atright angles (Figure 2) and has a downturned part 38 at its edge and asmoothly curved tab 40 at its outer edge. This forms a steppedarrangement which provides ample protection for the user of the knifepreventing (the hand from slipping and the guard becoming cut by theblade of the knife when the knife is in normal use.

As indicated previously, the cutting usually occurs at the corner 16 ofthe blade.

The guard 20a of Figure 5 is practically identical to the embodiment ofFigure 1. The guard plate 22a has parts 26a, 36a, 38a and 40a whichrespond directly to the corresponding parts of guard 20. However, guard2011 has no screw, nor does it have sleeves to accom modate the screw.In place of it, there is a single spring 24a attached, forinstance byhaving the ends fitted in apertures 44 and 46 in part 26a, to the guardplate 22a. The spring 24a extends over the outer end of the slot 28a andis adapted to extend over the handle 12 of a typical knife 10. Whenattaching the guard 20 to the knife, screw or bolt 24 is removed and theblade of the knife is slipped into the slot 28. When the guard occupiesa plate on the blade of the knife against the front end of handle 12,the screw 24 is replaced. Accordingly, the guard is now very securelyattached to the knife and in the proper position.

When applying guard 20a to the knife, the procedure is slightly simpler.The knife blade is merely slid through slot 28a with the springstretching slightly over the blade at its junction with the handle. Thespring tension holds the guard fastened on the knife.

In use, the guards fit all or almost all blades with a protruding cornerregardless of the type of knife or knife handle. Further, the guards 2t}and 23a function as a stand for the knife when a person does not wish tolay the knife flat on its side.

The guard is used as such, having a mechanical movement on the knife.When a persons finger hits a palt of the guard, for instance part 38 orpart 38a, the guard is sent forward against the corner 16 of the bladeand at the same time oscillating flat parts 26 and 26a against the innerend of the knife handle. Accordingly, there is a certain amount ofrocking movement between the guard and knife [to achieve the optimumperformance.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to: limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An attachment for a knife that has a blade and a handle with a cornerof the blade protruding laterally outwardly from the handle at least atthe junction of the handle with the blade, said attachment comprising aguard provided with a guard plate having a flat part abutting theforward end of the handle and provided with a slot through which theblade extends, an angular part lying under a portion of the handleadjacent to the blade corner, a downturned part at the rear edge of saidangular part and located directly behind said corner of the bladeproviding a finger protector, and means attached to said guard plate onopposite sides of said slot and extending across said slot and the upperedge of said blade for holding said plate fastened to said knife withsaid plate occupying a position between said corner of said blade andsaid handle.

2. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said means comprise a bolt, saidplate having a pair of sleeves spaced from each othere and in axialalignment with the space between said sleeves being in alignment withsaid slot, and said bolt carried by said sleeves and when attached tosaid sleeves having a portion thereof extenda ing across said slot insaid space between said sleeves thereby closing one end of said slot.

3. An attachment for a knife that has a blade and a handle with a partof the bladmprotruding laterally outwardly from the handle at least atthe,junction of thehandle with theblade, said, attachment,comprising aguard having a guard plate provided with a slot through which'the bladeextends, and means connected with, said plate for. holding said platefastened to saidaknife with said plate occupying a position between saidpart of said blade and said handle, said means comprising a springhaving ends attached to said plate on opposite sides of said slot andadapted to be stretched over s aid knife andretain the plate fastenedthereto.

'4. An attachment for a knife that has a blade and a handle lwithaparrtof the blade-protruding laterally outwardly from the handle at least atthe junction of the;handle with the 'blade, said attachment comprising aguard having a *guard plate provided with a slot through which the bladeextends, and means connected with said plate for holding said platefastened to said knife and said plate occupying a position between saidpart of said blade and said handle, said means comprising a springhaving ends attached to said plate on opposite sides of said slot andadapted .to be stretched over said knife and retain the platefastenedthereto, said plate having parts inapproxirnately stepped formationwhich are located between the corner ,of the blade nearest to saidhandle and which protrude laterally from the handle.

References 'Cited in the file-pf this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LeeApr. 23, 1 957

